After spending so much time researching the walls and gates of Jerusalem in order to write Marriage on the Mend, I am speechless to finally be face-to-face with those very walls. While Marriage on the Mend used Nehemiah’s restoration of Jerusalem’s walls as its Biblical backbone, Marriage on a Mission starts where that monumental restoration project ended. Although the Israeiltes, under Nehemiah’s leadership, restored the walls and gates in just 52 days, that was not the end of the story. Nehemiah 13 is the launching point for Marriage on a Mission and today, we spent time outside the city walls, filming some of the lesson segments needed to set the stage for what lies ahead.

In addition, I must note a few other reflections from today:

1. Muslims headed, in mass, to the Dome of the Rock this afternoon. At the same time, Jews were entering their observance of the Sabbath and Christians were “re-enacting” Jesus’ steps on the Via Dolorosa. Still taking it all in.

2. After getting turned around a few times, we finally found our way to the Pools of Bethesda (John 5). How we long for the marriages that are blind, lame, and paralyzed to find their healing in Christ and we pray to that end. We recorded some segments and a powerful time of prayer for marriages in need.

3. We had to return to the Wailing Wall today. It is always very humbling (and convicting) to observe the passion of the Jews who are praying at the wall. Very. What an overwhelming privilege to have the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in us, as Christians. May we never take the Holy Spirit or the gift of prayer for granted.